Total number of Indigenous nurses in B.C. unknown as registry says data is “incomplete”

Despite ongoing calls for more Indigenous health care workers, IndigiNews has learned that there is no publicly available data on the number of Indigenous nurses in the province — and those who are trying to track these statistics say the data is currently incomplete.

“I think this identifies a real gap in knowledge to help support Indigenous nurses,” says Kathleen Harris, FNHA Regional Manager for Nursing on Vancouver Island.

“There is an Indigenous Nurses of Canada organization that I have been a member of but it is a voluntary and paid membership so would not be an accurate reflection. To my knowledge, the union has never tracked this information.”

“It is common knowledge that an increase in the number of Aboriginal health professionals is needed to improve the future health outcomes for Aboriginal peoples in Canada,” according to the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association website.

But without concrete data, how can progress be tracked?

A spokesperson from the BC Union of Nurses told IndigiNews via email, that they do not track the number of Indigenous nurses, and that this would fall under the registry.

The British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) registers nurses in the province. Since 2006, the registry has had a box that people can select to identify as an Indigenous person, choosing “FN, Metis or Inuk.” There is also an option to specify which Nation, community, or band they identify with. This is offered in the registration form, but that information is incomplete, they say.

“Unfortunately the data we have is incomplete, so we’re not able to release it,” Johanna Ward, communications specialist for BCCNM wrote in an email to IndigiNews.

The Canadian Indigenous Nurses’s Association (CINA) tells IndigiNews that they do track the numbers but only when a nurse identifies themselves to their organization.

“We had previously obtained information from a mix of sources and the last resource was a collaboration with the University of Saskatchewan. Of course, we anticipate that these numbers are higher but “identification” becomes a very sensitive issue for many,” a representative from CINA explains via email.

The 2016 study from the University of Saskatchewan found that there were 1305 Indigenous nurses in B.C., out of 43,495 total nurses in the province. This study counts registered nurses, not licensed practical nurses.

“The lack of data is problematic for several reasons – primarily for workforce analysis, and for educational institutions,” the CINA representative says adding that they “continue to work with multiple stakeholders in addressing this issue” and “are truly grateful to organizations that have made a commitment towards ‘reconciliation.’”

Indigenous travel nurse and nursing instructor Diane Strong Eagle says she has been seeking actual numbers for years. An increase in Indigenous nurses “would answer the [Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s] call for action to educate more indigenous health care workers,” she says.

The TRC’s 23rd call to action is for an increase in the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health-care field.

“We call upon all levels of government to increase the number of Aboriginal professionals working in the health-care field. Ensure the retention of Aboriginal health-care providers in Aboriginal communities. Provide cultural competency training for all health-care professionals,” the call to action states.

Strong Eagle says every year she “participates in the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres event, ‘Gathering Our Voices’, so we can encourage and speak to youth about becoming nurses, and offer mentorship.”

She believes there is more work to be done on educating the general population about the barriers that Indigenous people face to becoming educated.

According to CINA, “this will not be a situation that can be resolved in the short term.” The organization is “looking forward to” reporting on the TRC’s calls to action and the “great strides” that have been made in addressing Indigenous nursing needs.

“We also look forward to the leadership roles that Indigenous nurses will play in shaping the many issues in Indigenous healthcare,” CINA tells IndigiNews.

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